Aggies reach first CWS since 1999

Early offense stuns Seminoles.

Texas A&M players celebrate their 11-2 victory over Florida State in the teams' Super Regional game on Monday, June 13, 2011, in Tallahassee, Fla.

Photo By Steve Cannon/Associated Press

Texas A&M's Kevin Gonzalez swings for a two-run double against Florida State in the first inning of the teams' Super Regional game on Monday, June 13, 2011, in Tallahassee, Fla.

Photo By Steve Cannon/Associated Press

Florida State's Justin Gonzalez throws out Texas A&M's Krey Brasten in the second inning of the teams' Super Regional game on Monday, June 13, 2011, in Tallahassee, Fla.

Photo By Steve Cannon/Associated Press

Texas A&M's Krey Brasten scores from third on a pitch that got past Florida State catcher Rafael Lopez in the first inning of the teams' Super Regional game on Monday, June 13, 2011, in Tallahassee, Fla.

Photo By Steve Cannon/Associated Press

Texas A&M's Michael Wacha pitches against Florida State in the second inning of the teams' Super Regional game on Monday, June 13, 2011, in Tallahassee, Fla.

Photo By Steve Cannon/Associated Press

Texas A&M's Andrew Collazo lays down a bunt against Florida State in the first inning of the teams' Super Regional game on Monday, June 13, 2011, in Tallahassee, Fla.

Photo By Steve Cannon/Associated Press

Texas A&M's Adam Smith celebrates with Jacob House (left) after hitting a home run against Florida State in the second inning of the teams' Super Regional game on Monday, June 13, 2011, in Tallahassee, Fla.

Photo By Steve Cannon/Associated Press

Texas A&M's Adam Smith throws out Florida State's Devon Travis in the sixth inning of the teams' Super Regional game on Monday, June 13, 2011, in Tallahassee, Fla.

Photo By Steve Cannon/Associated Press

Florida State's Rafael Lopez throws to first after forcing out Texas A&M's Kenny Jackson at home in the seventh inning of the teams' Super Regional game on Monday, June 13, 2011, in Tallahassee, Fla.

Photo By Steve Cannon/Associated Press

Texas A&M players rush the field after beating Florida State 11-2 in the teams' Super Regional game on Monday, June 13, 2011, in Tallahassee, Fla.

Florida State's Robby Scott, a senior, contemplates his last game at Dick Howser stadium after Texas A&M topped Florida State 11-2 in the teams' Super Regional game on Monday, June 13, 2011, in Tallahassee, Fla.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Texas A&M senior Kevin Gonzalez, draped in his drenched catcher's gear, sprinted toward pitcher Nick Fleece in the midst — and mist — of one final throw from second to first late Monday. Gonzalez tackled Fleece, and their teammates tackled them.

Then the Aggies, in a North Florida drizzle, rejoiced in the end of a 12-year College World Series drought.

“I was just hoping nobody would get hurt,” a grinning Gonzalez said of A&M's triumphant dog pile that wrapped up an NCAA tournament super regional at Florida State. “We need them this week.”

A&M, behind an outstanding start by Michael Wacha, whipped the Seminoles 11-2 in a deciding third game, punching its ticket to Omaha, Neb., for the first time since 1999. The Aggies hadn't won a lone super regional game since that season but followed Saturday's 6-2 victory behind starter Ross Stripling with the nine-run whipping of the favored Seminoles, who'd earned the nation's No. 5 seed and home-field advantage in the super regional. FSU had won the series' middle game 23-9 on Sunday at Dick Howser Stadium.

“There are two things I enjoy,” A&M sixth-year coach Rob Childress said. “No. 1, sitting at the front of the bus and listening to our players laugh after we've won a game on the road. And, No. 2, watching our guys dog pile on the way to Omaha.”

The Aggies join rival Texas in the CWS, and A&M will face defending national champion South Carolina at 6 p.m. Sunday in the opening round.

Wacha, a 6-foot-6 right hander, coolly slid into the role of Aggies ace after then-No. 1 starter John Stilson was diagnosed with a torn labrum in the week prior to the start of the postseason. Wacha won the Aggies' regional finale against Arizona a week ago. Childress on Sunday had elected to hold Wacha back for a potential third game, giving his arm another day's rest with the idea of having his top starter ready to go in a winner-take-all contest.

“I just knew I had to go out and throw strikes to help the team get to Omaha,” Wacha said.

One day after they rolled up the 23 runs against the Aggies, Wacha held the free-swinging Seminoles to three hits and two runs while striking out eight over 71/3 innings.

“Wacha is the real deal,” said coach Mike Martin, whose 32nd FSU squad wrapped up its season 46-19. “That was great stuff.”

Meanwhile, A&M's offense jumped on FSU starter Hunter Scantling and reliever Brian Busch for four runs each in the first two innings in grabbing an 8-0 lead. The Aggies scored six runs in the first, an inning highlighted by Gonzalez's two-run double to right-center.

An inning later, Adam Smith crushed a two-out, two-run homer to lift the Aggies to an eight-run lead and put away the game shortly after it started, thanks to another strong outing from Wacha, who hasn't allowed more than five runs in an outing this season.

The surging Aggies, who were primarily led by their pitching through the first three quarters of the season, have averaged nearly eight runs per game over their last 11 contests. The showers came in the eighth on Monday, but they were too late to slow A&M's cruise to the CWS.